As part of our centennial commemoration in 2013, we transformed our "Hall of Fame" into the Hall of Honor. It is now a modern showcase highlighting the life-changing contributions that a unique group of people have made on the American way of work.
The Hall was established in 1988 to honor those Americans whose distinctive contributions in the field of labor have elevated working conditions, wages, and overall quality of life of America's working families.
A special panel comprised of the Solicitor of Labor, the Assistant Secretary for Policy and the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management select who will be honored. The panel is chaired by the Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. The honorees are inducted to the Hall of Honor during a formal ceremony conducted at the department’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., or during special events across the country.
The Hall of Honor is located inside the North Plaza of the department's Frances Perkins Building at 200 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, D.C. The exhibit is open during government working hours. The portraits and brief biographies of the inductees are included in the online section of the Hall of Honor.
The Labor Hall of Honor recognizes individuals and groups whose distinctive contributions to the field of labor have enhanced the quality of life of millions - yesterday, today, and for generations to come. Nominees are considered on a rolling basis, and formal induction ceremonies are conducted at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, D.C. You can read more about each member of the hall by clicking on the names listed below.
Hall of Honor Inductees
2024
President Joseph R. Biden Jr.
President Biden was inducted into the Department of Labor's Hall of Honor for his commitment to workers' rights.
Filipino Labor Leaders of the Delano Grape Strike
Filipino Farm Workers were honored for their contributions to labor rights and the farm worker movement.
2023
The Bostock Plaintiffs
Gerald Bostock was inducted for his landmark Supreme Court case advancing LGBTQ+ workplace rights under the Civil Rights Act.
El Monte Thai Garment Workers
El Monte Thai Workers were honored for exposing human trafficking and advocating for labor rights in the garment industry.
2022
The Essential Workers of the Coronavirus Pandemic
Essential Workers were honored for their vital roles and dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring public health and safety.
2019
Robert P. Griffin
Robert P. Griffin co-authored the Landrum-Griffin Act and served in Congress, Senate, and Michigan Supreme Court.
Howard Jenkins Jr
William Patrick "Pat" Jenkins was honored for his pioneering role in advocating for the Civil Rights Division's enforcement of labor rights.
2018
Ronald Reagan
President Ronald Reagan was honored for his efforts in promoting workplace safety and expanding the Department of Labor's scope of influence.
2016
Frank Kameny
Frank Kameny was honored for pioneering efforts in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and fighting workplace discrimination for federal employees.
2015
Janet L. Norwood
Janet L. Norwood was honored for significantly advancing scientific approaches in mining health and safety.
Carroll D Wright
Carroll D Wright was honored for his pioneering work in labor rights and civil rights leadership.
Edward "Ted" M. Kennedy
Edward "Ted" M. Kennedy was honored for his dedication to labor rights and contributions to workplace safety and health legislation.
2014
The Chinese Railroad Workers
The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was honored for their crucial role in advancing civil rights and labor equality.
2013
Esther Peterson
Esther Peterson was honored for her influential work in consumer rights, labor advocacy, and empowering American workers.
Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin was honored for his pivotal role in civil rights activism and organizing the 1963 March on Washington.
2012
Dolores Huerta
Dolores Huerta was honored for her impactful leadership in labor organization and advocacy for farmworker and civil rights.
Mark Ayers
Mark Ayers was honored for leading AFL-CIO, fostering labor-management models and diversity in construction trades, enhancing worker benefits.
Tony Mazzocchi
Tony Mazzocchi was honored for advocating worker safety, shaping coalitions and driving reforms, pivotal for the Occupational Safety and Health Act.
Rev. Addie Wyatt
Rev. Addie Wyatt was honored for trailblazing labor leader and women's rights advocate, built bridges for minorities, aiding MLK Jr. and President Obama.
The Pioneers of the Farm Worker Movement
The Pioneers of the Farm Worker Movement was honored for farm worker movement combined civil rights tactics with modern strategies, inspiring widespread activism for social change.
2011
The Workers of the Memphis Sanitation Strike
The Workers of the Memphis Sanitation Strike were honored for advocating "I am a man," struck for dignity, influencing civil rights and unionization.
2010
Helen Keller
Helen Keller was honored for being a blind-deaf advocate and author, founded ACLU, joined IWW, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Justin Dart Jr.
Justin Dart Jr. was honored for being a disability rights advocate and ADA champion, founded corporations and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2008
Leonard F. Woodcock
Leonard F. Woodcock was honored for being a UAW leader, advanced auto workers' rights, facilitated Vietnam reconciliation, and became the first U.S. ambassador to China.
John Willard Marriott
John Willard Marriott was honored for founding a successful chain of restaurants and hotels, believing employee dedication was key to business success.
2007
William B. Wilson
William B. Wilson was honored for being a former miner, helped form United Mine Workers and became the first U.S. Secretary of Labor.
Adolphus Busch
Adolphus Busch was honored for revolutionizing brewing with pasteurization, refrigeration, and founding Budweiser, making Anheuser-Busch an industry leader.
2006
Alfred E. Smith
Alfred E. Smith was honored for being an Irish Catholic leader, improved workplace safety and labor laws as New York governor after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire.
Charles R. Walgreen
Charles R. Walgreen was honored for founding Walgreen Co., innovating with customer service, and emphasizing professionalism and friendliness.
2005
Peter J. Brennan
Peter J. Brennan was honored for advancing workers' pensions, minority recruitment, and disability employment protections.
Robert Wood Johnson II
Robert Wood Johnson II was honored for being an innovative leader, prioritized corporate responsibility, expanded Johnson & Johnson, and established a major healthcare philanthropy foundation.
2004
Peter J. McGuire
Peter J. McGuire was honored for founding the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and AFL, championing eight-hour workday and organizing Labor Day.
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson was honored for founding Harley-Davidson, growing it into the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer with employee dedication.
2003
Steve Young
Steve Young was honored for being a former police officer, advanced law enforcement support, improved labor relations, and addressed civil rights, serving FOP and Homeland Security.
Milton Hershey
Milton Hershey was honored for founding Hershey Chocolate Co., created jobs, built Hershey town, and donated his fortune to an orphan school.
Paul Hall
Paul Hall was honored for improv seafarers' conditions, founded the Seafarers' International Union, banned discrimination, and influenced the Merchant Marine Act.
2002
Lane Kirkland
Lane Kirkland was honored for leading AFL-CIO, reintegrating key unions and supporting global anti-totalitarian movements, including Poland's Solidarity.
James E. Casey
James E. Casey was honored for founding UPS, prioritized employee equity and fair treatment, upheld conditions during the Depression, and established a children's foundation.
9/11 Rescue Workers
9/11 Rescue Workers were honored for being diverse rescuers heroically assisted survivors, with many sacrificing lives, including numerous rescue workers at the World Trade Center.
2000
Joseph A. Beirne
Joseph A. Beirne was honored for being the CWA president, organized anti-union South, championed equal pay for women, and advised presidents and popes.
1999
Terence V. Powderly
Terence V. Powderly was honored for leading the Knights of Labor, advancing inclusion, and positioned organized labor as a significant political force.
1998
Cesar E. Chavez
Cesar E. Chavez was honored for being a spiritual UFW leader, used non-violence to uplift migrant farm workers, inspired by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.
1997
David A. Morse
David A. Morse was honored as a renowned humanitarian and ILO leader, promoted peace and employment standards; led ILO to Nobel Peace Prize win in 1969.
1996
William Green
William Green was honored for advocating for economic justice, fought bigotry, and led the trade union movement with strong moral values.
1995
Arthur J. Goldberg
Arthur J. Goldberg was honored for becoming a Secretary of Labor, Supreme Court Justice, and UN Ambassador, advancing worker rights and opposing injustice.
1994
George W. Taylor
George W. Taylor was honored for being the "father of American arbitration," advised presidents, arbitrated key industries, and shaped 20th-century labor relations.
1993
David Dubinsky
David Dubinsky was honored for being an ILGWU leader, advanced labor rights and education, founded U.S. political parties, supported Roosevelt, and immigrant dreams.
1992
Mary Harris "Mother" Jones
Mother Jones was honored for fearlessly advocating for laborers, boosting United Mine Workers, battling child labor, and enduring hardships for justice.
Sidney Hillman
Sidney Hillman was honored for being the ACWA president, improving labor conditions, co-founding CIO, influenced the New Deal, and supporting World War II efforts.
1991
Philip Murray
Philip Murray was honored for leading CIO and USW, advocating for fair union service and gaining respect as a negotiator.
Mary Anderson
Mary Anderson was honored for leading the Women's Bureau, championing workplace rights, and improving conditions for women in federal service.
1990
Robert F. Wagner
Robert F. Wagner was honored for crafting transformative New Deal laws including the Wagner Act and advanced early civil rights legislation.
Walter P. Reuther
Walter P. Reuther was honored for being a UAW leader, advanced collective bargaining, civil rights, healthcare, housing, environmental issues, and global trade unionism.
Henry J. Kaiser
Henry J. Kaiser was honored for being a renowned entrepreneur, built infrastructure, shipyards, and businesses, employing thousands and cooperating with unions during the Depression and WWII.
Eugene V. Debs
Eugene V. Debs was honored for founding American Railway Union, championing economic justice, women's suffrage, and ran for president five times.
1989
A. Philip Randolph
A. Philip Randolph was honored for being a black labor leader, founding Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, advancing racial equality, and leading civil rights initiatives.
Frances Perkins
Frances Perkins has honored for enacting crucial Depression-era reforms, including Social Security, worker rights, and minimum wage laws.
James P. Mitchell
James P. Mitchell was honored for championing worker rights, civil rights, collective bargaining, minimum wage increases, and skills training.
George Meany
George Meany was honored for leading American labor, championing unity, and social welfare reforms for 25 years.
John L. Lewis
John L. Lewis was honored for leading the United Mine Workers, gaining top wages, pioneering health benefits, and revitalizing labor with CIO formation.
Samuel Gompers
Samuel Gompers was honored for leading the AFL, prioritizing working within American systems, and addressing worker issues non-confrontationally.
John R. Commons
John R. Commons was honored for pioneering social legislation, influencing trade unionism, collective bargaining, and inspiring 20th-century labor reforms.
Cyrus S. Ching
Cyrus S. Ching was honored for improving labor-management relations, inspiring cooperation, and becoming the first Federal Mediation director under Truman.